Zambia: Feasibility Study for 150 MW Wind, Solar and Energy Storage Hybrid Project Announced

• The US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has awarded a grant to Upepo Energy Zambia Limited, a Zambian energy solutions company, to fund a feasibility study for a 150MW wind, solar and energy storage hybrid power plant project in northern Zambia.
• The study will evaluate the optimal mix of on-site wind, solar and battery storage technologies to provide energy generation and services to the Zambian grid.

Upepo has in turn selected New York-based WSP USA to conduct the technical and financial analysis needed to develop the large-scale hybrid project and determine its commercial viability. It is expected to be one of the first hybrid renewable energy projects in the country and will provide much-needed generation and grid support in that part of the country.

“USTDA believes this feasibility study will address critical energy generation and battery storage needs in Zambia, while providing enhanced access to affordable and reliable electricity,” said Todd Abrajano, USTDA’s acting deputy director, who signed the grant in Lusaka.

“This project will also serve as a gateway for US technologies to serve an important sector in Zambia,” Abrajano added.

Upepo Energy’s chief development officer Dean Baumgardner also commented: “We need to thank USTDA for its vision and commitment, and local partners in northern Zambia for their strong support for this project.

Baumgardner asserted the company’s committed to working closely with all of these key stakeholders to bring “this state-of-the-art clean multi-technology renewable energy project to Zambia.”

Author: Babalwa Bungane

This article was originally published on ESI Africa and is republished with permission with minor editorial changes.